blue ribbon school Eleven New Jersey schools have been designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools in the latest round of an award bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education to high-performing schools.

Among 337 schools recognized nationwide, the New Jersey schools represent a mix from urban and suburban districts, as well as one charter school.

Three of the public schools are career-centered academies in county vocational districts. Two of the New Jersey honorees are private schools.

Public schools must meet one of two criteria to be nominated: exemplary high performance overall, including being among the top 15 percent in the state, or exemplary performance in closing the achievement gap.

The schools are also judged on their goals and vision as presented in their applications.
The public schools are initially nominated by the state Department of Education.

“I want to congratulate the students, parents, and educators at these nine high-performing schools for their dedication to excellence and for providing programs that will prepare their students to graduate ready for college and career,” said acting Education Commissioner David Hespe in announcing the public school awards.